Page 24 of Hitched

I’m very careful with how I answer the questioning look on da’s face. “I did see him. The night of Brandy’s divorce party. He followed me to the bar and later got into a squabble with Chas Ford.”

Another brow lift. “Chas Ford? He’s also part of this scheme.”

“He is.” I’m careful not to add anything else without gauging what da will say next.

“And what did he want with you, Laney?”

Uh oh.

I decide the best way around this is to go for bold. “He said that Dougall insisted that he and I get married.”

Da barks a laugh. Not sure if it’s him taking my comment as a joke, or if he thinks the mere thought is utterly ridiculous. “Laney.” He growls. “Really. Why did that boy follow you to a bar? Did he have ill intentions? Wait, of course, he did. Caleb Harris would have nothing good to add to your life, I’m sure.”

I bite my lip. “Da, it’s no joke. He actually suggested that we get married. On Dougall’s insistence.”

Da rises from the chair abruptly. “And what did you tell him, Laney? Surely you tossed your drink in his face and told him to go to hell.”

I tilt my head. “Close. But I did tell him to go to hell, and in no uncertain terms that I would never marry him.”

“The nerve of that boy.” Da growls.

I shrug. “He was drunk.”

“I assume you were, too. This wasn’t the drink making you imagine things, was it? I remember you once thought you could fly when you’d had too much.”

“I believe that was you, da.”

He blinks. Recognition comes to his face. “It was, wasn’t it.” He mutters to himself. Then he waves and sighs, shaking it off. “Nonetheless. Do you think he was serious about his da telling him to propose marriage?”

I guffaw, righteously. “Oh, I’m certain he did. That was his primary reason for being at the bar and for being drunk. I can feel for him on that score. If you ever set me up to marry someone, especially on terms like Dougall Harris’s, I’d probably need to toss a year’s worth back in one night.”

“That man has no scruples. I can’t believe he’d sink so low and drag his son into that. It’s all because of the women that want him. I see the articles. I know what he’s worth to the female general public. Dougall played that up. Heartless, cold bastard, he is.”

“I don’t disagree, da.”

He looks at me. “You just make sure that the boy doesn’t play the pity card and manipulate you, Laney. There is no telling what Caleb will do for his da’s bidding.”

“I sincerely hope that you don’t think I’m that dense, da.”

He walks over to me and kisses me on the head. Da is a head taller than me, but his heart is as big as he is. “I know you wouldn’t, Laney. I just worry about you is all. These pretty boys, they’re all the same.”

I look up at him. “You think he’s pretty?” I joke.

Another kiss on my head. “I’ll go see that your mama is ready for our meeting.”

“Love you, da.”

“Love you, too, Laney.”

And then I stand there and realize what I’ve done and what it will do to da if he ever finds out.

…And now, on to more mistakes.

Chapter 8

Laney

My phone rings, breaking me of my reverie. I’m reading another article about the murder investigation, and how Rachel’s string of socialites reaches halfway around the earth’s hemisphere. Authorities are questioning everyone. Her body was finally autopsied and she was laid to rest yesterday; a week and a half after her death. I suppose Henry from NovoMax had something to do with speeding up that process, since I know for a fact that the waiting list for autopsies and toxicology reports and the like is months long. A client of mine is married to someone in the business, that’s the only reason why I know such creepy facts.

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